Key-holding device for keyboard musical instruments.



1. GORST. KEY HOLDING DEVICE FOR KEYBOARD MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.26. I9I4.

Patented July 1I, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I v v I w .Ewi mi INVENTOR.

WITNESSES. W' ffc M 1. GORST.

KEY HOLDING DEVICE FOR KEYBOARD MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.26. 1914.

Patented July 11, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

7/ 8m ou u L 3. if QD I. Khun@ F @n Q# /00 2 2.2. \I @I 9 Fig] INVENTOR.

wbr-'lucy I. GORST.

KEY HOLDING DEVICE FORKEYBOARD MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. APPLlcATIoN FILED DEc.2s. 1914.

1 ,190,994. Patented July 1I, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

i WITNESSES. INVENTOR. 7, V56@ RorS-f J. GORST.

KEY HOLDING DEVICE EUR KEYBOARD MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-26, 1914.

Patented July II, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

3S vvITNEssEs INVENTOR.

korkS* Enno4 wAsmmmIII4 n c J. GORST.

KEY HOLDING DEVICE FDR KEYBOARD MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS..

APPLICATION FILED DEC.26, |914.

Patented July 1l, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

INyENToR.

Figi?.

WITNESSES m/@M JOSEPH GORST, OF NORTHWICH, ENGLAND.

KEY-HOLDING DEVICE FOR KEYBOARD MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 11, 1916.

Application filed December 26, 1914. Serial No. 879,168.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH GoRsT, a British subject, residing at Northwich, county of Chester, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Key-Holding Devices for Keyboard Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention vrelates to improvements in key holding devices for keyboard musical instruments. A

It consists essentially in providing such instruments or apparatus with a single device either above or below the keyboard, the movement of which device into different positions is adapted simultaneously to lock or restrict in movement any predetermined required number of keys on the keyboard, only leaving those keys unlocked or unrestricted in movement which are necessary for a required exercise or sequence of notes and any note struck in error will not be depressed. The locking or restricting device may be so arranged that on a-,locked key being struck a particular sound is produced and the false note detected.

' The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings forming part of the specification.

Figure 1. is a plan view of a clavier with the invention applied thereto. Fig. 2. is a section on line .0c-x Fig. 1. Fig. 3. is a transverse section of Fig.- 1. Fig. 4. is a detail plan from underneath of the locking device. Fig. 5. is a plan View of a clavier with a modified form of the invention applied thereto. Fig. 6. is a section on line w-w Fig. 5. Fig. 7. is a transverse section of Fig. 5. Fig. 8. is a detail view of the locking roller A. Fig. 9. is a section on line g/-Jz/ Fig. 8. Fig. 10. is a section on line z-.e Fig. 8. Fig. 11. is a transverse section of a'pianoforte with-the invention applied thereto. Fig. 12. is a transverse section of a pianoforte with the invention applied thereto below the keys.

In Figs. 1 to 4 the invention is shown applied to a clavier. A sliding block 1 is mounted above the keyboard behind the pivots 2 of the keys 3. The block 1 is mounted in slides 4 and 5 so that it is capable of ,movement both longitudinally and transversely of the instrument. The block 1 is provided on its under surface with a series or rows of slots or holes 6. A peg or pin 7 is axed to each key 8 adapted to engage with the block 1 or enter a hole 6 therein when the key is struck, the depression of a key 3 only being permitted when a hole 6 is opposite the peg. Otherwise the movement of the key is restricted.

Any number of rows of holes or slots 6 can be provided on the underside of the block 1 and each row represents a different sequence of keys left open. In the block shown in Fig. 4, the sequences of keys left open correspond to 5 finger major exercises, 5 finger minor exercises, major scales, minor scales, major arpeggios, minor arpeggios, dominant sevenths, diminished sevenths and a free keyboard.

On the slide 4 a spring pin 9 is mounted to engage a series of slots or holes 8 in a fixed part of the instrument frame so that the slide 4 carrying the sliding block 1, may be held in its adjusted positions. The slots or holes S are marked or scaled in order with the names of the various sequences of keys so that by moving the slide 4 to or fro on the slide-ways 5 and relative to the indieating scale 8 just referred to, a scale selective movement is obtained whereby different holes 10 on the slide represent-ing different exercises or scales will be brought under the pins or pegs 7 on the keys 3,

In the Figs. 1-4 the various sequences of keys left open referred to above are indicated as follows -5 finger major exercises as le, 5 finger minor exercises as Z, major scales as m, minor scales as n, major arpeggios as o, minor arpeggios as p, dominant sevenths as Q, diminished sevenths as r, and a free key-board as s.

The following are the keys on the keyboard in the key of C (starting from C) which will be left unlocked for the various exercises referred to:

Unlocked keys.

k. 5nger major exercise .C D E F G f2. 5 finger minor exercise ..0 D Eb F m. Major scale or keym.. ....C D E F G A B C 1L. Minor scale or key.. ...C D Eb F G Ab B C Fo. Major arpeggo..... ...C E G C p. Minor arpeggio ....C {Eb G C q. Dominant Tths on C .C E G Bb C r. Diminished 7ths on C .C Eb Gb Bbb C vided to engage in or extend in the recesses 10 formed in the block 1 so as to retain the latter in its key selective positions. These series of holes which represent the number of keys in the octave are marked to correspond therewith thus A er na ra es A. Bb. B. c. nb. D. nb. F. eb. e. A. A.

It will thus be seen that by moving the sliding block 1 any of the different exercises or sequences of notes provided for, can be played in any key desired while the remainder of the keys of the keyboard 3 will be locked. Thus, if it is desired to play the major arpeggio of C the slide 4t with the block 1 is moved transversely in the slide 5 until the pin 9 engages with the hole 8 corresponding to the major arpeggio. The row of holes G corresponding thereto is consequently brought over the pins or pegs 7 on the keys 3. The sliding block 1 is then moved longitudinally in the slide l until the pin 11 thereon engages with the hole 10 marked C in the block 1. The only keys 3 which can now be depressed are those corresponding with the major arpeggio of C. In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the sliding block 1 is shown in the position for a playing with a free keyboard as the portion of the block 1 under the pins or pegs 7 is provided with a slot extending the whole length of the block so that any key 3 can be depressed.

A modification of the invention is shown in Figs. 5 to 10. In this case a roller 12 is substituted for the sliding block 1. The roller 12 is mounted in suitable bearings 13 and 14 below thekeys 3 so that it can have a rotary and a longitudinal movement. The

roller 12 is provided around its periphery with rows or series of slots or holes 26 which as in the case of the sliding block 1 are formed vto correspond with any desired sequence of keys or exercise. These different series of keys or exercises are indicated as followsrfinger major exercises as K, 5 finger minor exercises as L, major scales as M, minor scales as N, major arpeggios as O, minor arpeggios as l), dominant sevenths as Q, diminished sevenths as R, and a free keyboard as S. Each key 3 is provided on the under side with a pin or peg 7. The roller 12 is provided at one end with a knob or handle 15 by which it can be rotated' and moved longitudinally and the end or handle 15, is marked or scaled with the various sequences of keys formed on the roller. The end of the roller 12 is also formed with a number of rings marked or scaled with the various notes in the octave and where each of these rings crosses one of the markings representing a sequence of keys a hole 16 is formed adapted to be engaged by a spring locking pin 17 carried in the end of the instrument. It will thus be seen that by rotating the roller 12 and moving it longitudinally any of the different exercises or sequences of notes marked on the roller can be played in any key on the instrument, while the remainder of the keys of the keyboard 3 will be locked. Thus if it is desired to play the major scale of C the roller 12 is rotated until the major scale marked thereon is brought under the pins or pegs 7 on the keys 3 and is then moved longitudinally until the ring of holes 16 representing the key of C is under the spring pin 17. The only keys 8 which can now be depressed are those corresponding with the major scale of C.

Figs. 11 and 12 show the invention applied to the keyboard of a pianoforte. In Fig. 11 the roller 12 is mounted above the keyboard behind the pivot of the keys 3 and in F ig. 12 it is mounted below the keyboard in front of the pivot of the keys 3. In both cases the roller 12 is provided with slots or holes 26 to be engaged by pins or pegs 7 on the keys 3. The slots or grooves are arranged in the roller 12 and the latter is capable of being rotated and moved longitudinally to bring different rows of holes and alter the key as before described.

By placing the locking device 1 or 12 a little distance from the pins or pegs 7 on the keys the pins or pegs will be forced against the device when a wrong note is struck and will produce a noise or sound.

If desired holes may be formed on each key and pins or projections arranged as required provided on the locking device.

In order to assist the player to know which keys 3 on the keyboard should be struck corresponding to the exercise or sequence of keys being played and left free by the locking device a diagrammatic key board 20 is marked on a strip of wood or cardboard and laid over the keyboard 3 as shown in Figs. 3, 5, 6, and 7. rI`he diagrammatic keyboard 20 is marked with the notation of the keys A, B, C, et cetera. A slot 21 is formed in the keyboard 2O to support a strip of cardboard 22 marked with the eX- ercise or sequence of notes to be played so that when it is placed in position these markings will be opposite the correct keys 3 to be depressed and show the order in which the keys are to be depressed for both the right and left hands.

In the example shown in Fig. 6 the strip 22 is shown marked for playing the major scale of C. When it is required to play some other exercise the strip 22 is replaced by another strip fingered to correspond.

What I claim as my invention and desire to protect by Letters Patent is':-

1. In a keyboard-operated musical instrument, the combination with a keyboard, of a single member mounted on the instrument adjacent the keyboard and having a movement relative to the latter and adapted to lock all the keys of said keyboard against depression, said member being formed with recesses therein for permitting the depression of any or all of said keys, according to the position of said member.

2. In a keyboard-operated musical instrument, the combination with a keyboard, of a single roller arranged to lock all the keys of the keyboard against depression and having a longitudinal shifting movement and a rotary movement relative to said keys, said roller being formed with recesses for permitting the depression of certain combinations of keys or all of said keys, according to the position of said roller, substantially as described.

3. In a keyboard-operated musical instrument, the combination with a keyboard, of a single movable locking roller arranged substantially transversely to the keys of the keyboard and having depressions therein to correspond to a plurality of groupings of said keys, said roller having rotary and longitudinal shifting movements relative to said keys, and pegs on the keys of the keyboard adapted to engage the locking roller or to enter said recesses, when a recess is opposite a peg so as to allow the depression of the respective key.

4. In a key-operated musical instrument, the combination with the keyboard, of a single movable roller having recesses therein to correspond with the plurality of groupings of keys of the keyboard, said roller being arranged substantially transversely of said keys and having a scale selective movement and a key selective movement, pegs on the keys oi the keyboard to enter said recesses when a recess is opposite a key, means to indicate the position of the roller for any desired scale, and means to indicate the position of the roller for any desired key in which said scale is to be played.

5. In a key-operated musical instrument, the combination with the keyboard, of a single movable roller having recesses therein to correspond to a plurality of groupings of keys of the keyboard, said roller being arranged substantially transversely of the keys and having a scale selective movement and a key selective movement, pegs on the keys of the keyboard to enter said recesses when a recess is opposite a key, means to indicate the position of the roller for any desired scale, means to indicate the position of the roller for any desired key in which said scale is to be played, and means for holding said roller in position.

6. In a keyboard-operated musical instrument, the combination with a keyboard, of a single movable roller having recesses therein to correspond to a plurality of groupings of keys of the keyboard, said roller being arranged transversely of the keys and having a scale selective movement, and a key selective movement relative to the keys, pegs on the keys of the keyboard to enter said recesses of the roller when a recess is opposite the key, a graduated scale to indicate the position of the roller for any desired key in which said scale is to be played, bearings for said roller, and means for holding said roller in any desired position.

7. In a keyboard-operated musical instrument, the combination with a keyboard, of a single movable locking member arranged substantially transverse to the keys of the keyboard to lock all the keys against depression, said member having a longitudinal and lateral shifting movement relative to the keyboard, said member having recesses formed therein for permitting the depression of certain combinations of keys or all of said keys, according to the position of said member.

8. In a keyboard-operated musical instrument, the combination with a keyboard, of a single movable roller disposed adjacent the keys of the keyboard and having recesses therein to correspond to a plurality of groupings of keys, said roller having a movement relative to said keys, a peg on each key to enter one of said recesses when it is opposite a key, means for locking said roller in its several positions, an indicating scale on the roller, and means coperative with said scale for indicating the position of the roller for any desired exercise.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH GORST. Witnesses J. OwDnN OBRIEN, GEO. H. OBRmN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing'- the "Commissioner of latents, Washington, D. C. 

